Deportivo kept their top
spot for the seventeenth week in a row and staked a serious claim for the
championship with a comfortable win against Valencia. Eliminated from the UEFA
cup midweek, they can now concentrate fully on their number one objective, a
title they have never won in their long history. Irureta was without two of his
first choice players, Naybet and Mauro Silva, both suspended, but Donato
returned to the defence, and with Jaime suffering a late ankle injury,
Jokanovic came in to the defensive midfield pivot position alongside Flavio.
There was still no place for Spanish international defender César
despite his return to fitness, and he expressed his concern before the match
that his chances of playing for his country in the upcoming Euro 2000
championships were getting slimmer by the minute. Héctor Cúper
brought Bjorklund into defence in place of the suspended Pellegrino. Deportivo
showed their intentions right from the start, with an inspired Djalminha
hitting the bar and forcing a save from Cañizares in the first two
minutes. Manuel Pablo and Romero attacked down the two wings, and the right
back set up the first goal for Fran, unmarked near the penalty spot. Just
before half time, a first time shot from Djalminha on the halfway line caught
Cañizares off his line, and the visitors breathed a sigh of relief as
the ball bounced once and brushed the crossbar on it's way out. Another
opportunist goal from Flavio put Deportivo further ahead shortly after the
interval, and the leaders were in overdrive. Cúper brought on Angulo for
Kily and replaced his two forwards with Juan Sánchez and Oscar, but
their first real shot at goal came ten minutes from the end when Songo'o pushed
Mendieta's free kick out for a corner. Referee Megía Dávila
finally lived up to his reputation, sending off two players near the end
(Jokanovic for a tackle from behind and Farinós for two silly hand balls
in a few minutes), taking his tally past 100 red and yellow cards this season.
Deportivo now go into next Saturday's crunch match with Barcelona full of
confidence, with a four point lead over Alavés and five over Barcelona,
Real Madrid and Zaragoza. Valencia are still sixth, but a six point gap has
opened up between them and the leading group. Their interests are still divided
between the league and the Champions competition, but they could find
themselves out of the running for both at the end. On Wednesday they visit
Bordeaux, a game they really need to win to be sure of reaching the European
quarter finals. It would be better for their chances of playing in Europe next
year if they lost, but they have to go for it. Good luck to them I say.

If matches were decided by
shots at goal, this match would have ended 8-5 to the home side. However what
counts are the number of times the ball enters the onion bag, and Barcelona
took advantage of their opportunities with an efficiency that must have sent
out a warning to their rivals for the championship this year. Van Gaal had his
first choice forward line on display, with Kluivert returning after suspension
and Rivaldo back after being rested, joining Figo up front. He was however
forced to leave out playmaker Guardiola, nursing a muscle injury, and Xavi came
back into the side. Bilbao were without Carlos García and Tiko, both
suspended, and their manager Luis Fernández also had to watch the match
from the stands after he was sent off last week. Fernández changed his
formation back to the 3-4-1-2 line up, with José Mari switching to an
unfamiliar defensive role (Alkorta just failing to recover from his injury in
time), Lacruz playing out at right wing back, and Julen Guerrero back in the
side, but playing further forward than his natural position. Imanol returned in
goal after his one match suspension. After Barcelona scored with their first
attack of the game, Bilbao attacked strongly, with Julen putting a couple of
shots wide and hitting the post with a header, and Hesp saving from Lacruz.
Just before the half hour mark, Barcelona went further ahead under
controversial circumstances, Kluivert racing through the offside to trap to
control Figo's pass on the edge of the area. Everybody stopped, including
Kluivert, thinking the Dutch striker was offside, and Kluivert, just in case,
lobbed the ball over the stationary Etxeberria. To the amazement of everyone,
referee Fernández Marín pointed to the centre spot, and the goal
was allowed. He was right however, as television cameras later verified. A few
minutes later Ezquerro had to leave the field with a twisted ankle, Urzaiz
coming on, and just after half time Edu Alonso came on for Ferreira to
strengthen midfield. Ten minutes into the half Hesp crashed into Joseba
Etxeberria and the Bilbao striker had to leave the field on a stretcher with
concussion, Sivori replacing him. The crowd whistled as the referee only showed
a yellow card to the visiting keeper. Van Gaal decided that Xavi was not
pulling his weight and brought on Gabri, with Ronald De Boer dropping back to
the organiser role. Gabri could have scored but the referee disallowed the goal
for a dubious offside, and the young midfielder was involved in an elbowing
incident with Larrazábal which left the Bilbao defender with a cut above
his eye. Both Etxeberria and Larrazábal spent the night in the local
hospital. After the third goal Bilbao gave up the fight, and Figo added insult
to injury in the last minute with another goal. This was Barcelona's first away
win in the league for over two months, and they moved up to second temporarily
pending the result of the Alavés game on Sunday. Bilbao's season has
gone right off the rails, and Fernández maybe has to decide who his
first choice eleven are and stick with them, instead of changing four or five
each week. True that injuries, bookings and suspensions have complicated
matters, but right now nobody knows where they are supposed to play. They drop
down the table, and if they don't get their act together they may get embroiled
in the relegation struggle rather than pushing for a place in Europe.